Dead Shall Speak (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 10) (24 page)

Callen saw this one coming a mile away. The pompous bald man was about to get his ass handed to him.

He couldn’t wait.

“I tend to agree,” stated Doctor Bridget Seston. “We’re doctors, and you can’t just wing it on a site like this. It takes years of studying and methodical skills to do what we do.”

She crossed her arms. What she wanted to do was point out that in the last years, she’d taught Doctor Magnus how to do everything. “Yeah, well, I run FBI West, which has almost six hundred agents, doctors, and other staff. I also work intricate cases to find serial killers who elude other investigators. Let me assure you that I’m well qualified to handle this. In fact, this is like running a preschool compared to what I do every day. I have children, so I speak from experience on that.”

He stared down his nose at her.

Literally.

It made her want to break it off his face and tap dance around it on the ground.

“I don’t think…”

She cut him off. “You obviously don’t. Since this is an FBI site, I’m going to take charge. If you’d like to quit, I’ll make sure that I make note of that in my report. So, when the FBI needs more anthropologists, for more official digs, Doctor Armstrong will be first on the list, since she didn't put up a fight.”

That seemed to work.

Neither doctor liked that idea at all.

Oh yeah, she knew how to manipulate a few brainiacs. Elizabeth could do it in her sleep.

It wasn’t hard to notice that the female doctor looked more irritated by her suggestion. She obviously didn't like coming in second to Jaxon Armstrong. Well, whatever it took to push their buttons, she’d do it.

“What would you like us to do?” asked Doctor Hertz.

“I need you to go back over the photographs of the older victims and use those bone lovin’ brains of yours to group them in categories of like characteristics. Do you think you can handle that? If they had kids, put them in one. If they were of different ethnicities, group them that way. I’m sure people of your fine educations can handle something as simple as that.”

Elizabeth was praying that the female doctor in front of her was the one who hit on Callen. It would give her more reason to ride the woman’s ass.

Who was she kidding? Elizabeth wanted to beat her ass into the ground for touching her man.

“Doctor Magnus will be back tomorrow. At which time, you can bitch, moan, and complain to him all you want. Tell him that his boss was mean and unfair. See how far that gets you. He is already well aware.”

This time, the two doctors said nothing.

At least they learned fast.

Elizabeth faced down the last three people there. They had to be the college students. They looked less worried about being bored, and more than happy to lounge around doing nothing.

Yeah, that screamed professional students.

“Director Whitefox and I would like to have you three assist.”

“I’d be more than happy to assist him,” stated the woman. “What can I do for you, Director?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at Callen.

He looked mortified.

That cued Elizabeth in, along with the way Callen was keeping his distance from the woman. This had to be the handsy one from the other day.

“Oh, I bet you’d love to help him out. I’ve heard about you, Miss…”

“Valerie Joseph. I don’t believe in titles. We’re all the same once you get past the flesh and blood.”

Yeah, she was an idiot. Youth was wasted on the stupid. Elizabeth was convinced of that. In twenty years, she’d learned a great deal, like don’t hit on another woman’s man. It’ll get you hurt, and fast.

“Well, here’s a title you may want to take notice of, Valerie. My last name is hyphenated and contains his last name. So, the next time you play grab ass with a Whitefox, or a Blackhawk, you’re going to be getting a little visit from ‘she who has a title’ and bad attitude. Are we clear?”

At least she had the dignity to blush as Callen moved closer to Elizabeth. When he dropped his arm possessively around her waist, the woman’s eyes went big.

Callen grinned. “You made a comment about my wife not being here to find out, well, she’s here.”

“And I most definitely found out,” she stated. “Now, once again, are we clear what you’re to do and NOT to do?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?” Elizabeth asked.

“Ma’am.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, that’s not good enough. How about we try Director Whitefox-Blackhawk? Say it, memorize it, and keep your damn hands to yourself or I’ll be the one harassing you, and trust me. It won’t be sexual. You’re not my type, but he is.”

Valerie didn't say a word.

Elizabeth shifted her focus to the men beside the lecherous student. “You two…who are you?”

The one man was obviously amused at what had just happened. “I’m Jeffery Whilton.”

“I’m Donald Hopper.”

“Help the doctors out, stay out of trouble, and be ready for Doctor Magnus to return tomorrow. Okay?”

They both nodded.

Elizabeth and Callen headed out. They could feel eyes watching them, and that was more reason than ever to do what he planned on doing.

When his hand made contact with her ass, she struggled to not laugh. “Callen James, you’re dangerously close to crossing that line. I may have been MIA the last month, but I didn't get an attitude adjustment while I was away.”

It was funny that she was protesting, especially since the scent of passion and sex still lingered on both of them. They’d just broken some rules themselves.

“It’s well worth the beat down.”

“I hope it’s well worth the paperwork,” she stated.

He was confused. “What?”

“That ass pat of yours just got you homework. I want you to run that entire team. I want to know everything about each one of them.”

“You think one of them is the killer?”

She wasn’t sure. “They dug up the bodies. Who better to contaminate the scene on purpose? You know what they say in FBI one-oh-one. He who finds the body could have likely hidden it.”

Elizabeth had a point.

“Where to now?”

“I want you to contact Ethan. Sex in the company car made me hungry, and now you’re going to buy me lunch,” she stated.

“Do you want me to lead in with that when I talk to him?” he teased.

“Callen James. You’re pushing your luck today.”

He was well aware.

Then again, he was okay with that.

Somehow, he suspected she was too.

                                                *    *    *

Getting out of the morgue made him happy. It wasn’t that he didn't like being near his team, Ethan just didn't like being away from his wife and brother. Callen could keep her safe, there was no doubt, but Ethan was always worried about the baby she carried.

While CJ was treasured, as were all their kids, Charlie was a gift. She was almost never conceived, due to a maniac who tried to kill him. The little girl growing in his wife’s body was his second chance in life, and he hated being away from her.

Blackhawk wanted to hover over her twenty-four-seven.

While Elizabeth had been away for that month, there’d been many a sleepless night. When Ethan did sleep, he woke to vivid dreams of his wife calling for him, needing his help.

It rocked him to his core, especially since the reason he found her, years ago, was through those same dreams.

What if they were right and she was in danger?

It shook him up, making him a mess.

Pulling into the parking lot of the diner, Ethan saw the other Denali already there. Rushing in, he ignored the stares when he headed straight toward the two people who owned his heart. As he leaned down, there was peace the second her lips touched his.

“I missed you,” he said, sliding into the booth to sit beside her.

“The feeling is mutual,” she stated, taking Ethan’s hand in hers before placing it in her lap. “We already ordered you something for lunch,” Elizabeth offered.

Ethan ran his fingers of his free hand over her cheek. “How did you get whisker burn?” he asked, taking the soda from the table to quench his thirst. “I’m going to bet the usual suspect.”

Callen grinned smugly. “You better believe it.”

It was all Ethan needed to see. “I have to protest that now you owe me some clandestine quickie somewhere. It should be my choice too.”

“What can I say? Your brother is out of control. I warned him not to take advantage of me, but he wouldn’t listen.”

That made Callen laugh. “Yeah, it was all me. I held you down and had my wicked way with you.”

“Well, you did proclaim earlier that you had aspirations to be a serial rapist,” Elizabeth admitted. “So, it could have happened that way.”

“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” Callen inquired.

“Hell no!” they said together.

It made Callen laugh. It had been a while since he felt back in sync with his life.

It was about damn time.

Elizabeth focused on their day, getting down to business. “How’s the team doing?” she asked. “Are they playing nice? Or do I have to go back there and kick some ass?”

Blackhawk didn't doubt she would. “It’s like they never had a fight at all. I can’t believe I missed the tension.” Generally, Ethan was aware of his surroundings and could handle anything that popped up. Unfortunately, as of late, he was off step with everything, including work.

Now, he was better.

She was his cure.

Elizabeth wasn’t surprised that they were doing better. Family always rallied when they needed to, and her team was a tight unit.

“Well, I gave the dig team their jobs, and they should be good until Tony is back on site. In fact, I want the tech team there tomorrow to wander around the area. We might get lucky and find something.”

They could do that.

Ethan relaxed as food was placed in front of him. He noticed that Elizabeth didn't have a big burger like he and Callen had. Instead, she had something grilled.

“What is that?” he asked.

Callen shook his head in warning.
“Shit! Don’t ask,”
he mouthed over her head.

“Seriously, what is it? It looks like grilled cheese, but if we’re not having it, then it has to be pregnified.”

Then it hit him.

Oh hell!

This was going to be one of her incredibly gross concoctions, and he’d walked right into it.

Maybe he wasn’t back on his game one hundred percent.

Elizabeth loved how sweet and silly her men were. Normally, they would all eat the same thing. It was their way of showing unity during the pregnancies, but whenever she went off the cuff with food, they refused to go there.

This was one of those times.

“It’s a grilled peanut butter and bacon sandwich,” she offered.

Callen took a bite of his burger. “Wait for it.”

“With jalapenos and pickles.”

“And there you go,” Callen added. “We’ve reached a new low in the culinary department.”

Ethan looked appalled as he placed his hand on her baby bump. “I’m sorry, Charlie, but your momma is a little crazy.”

She laughed. “I can’t help it. This child likes spicy, salty, bacon, and peanut butter.”

“And the pickles?” he asked, before his brother could warn him.

“So you can be grossed out when I make you take a bite,” Elizabeth said, holding the dripping, gooey mess out.

“Baby,” he began, eyeing it. “You wouldn’t offer up sex to Callen, and then this mess to me, would you? That could be construed as playing favorites.”

“What’s that, Charlie? Daddy is hurting your feelings, since this is the first thing you ever made for him.”

“Christ Almighty,” he muttered, taking one for the team.

Praying he didn't toss his cookies, he took a bite and slowly chewed. “Okay, that’s not too bad. Callen should try it.”

“Hey! What the hell? Why would you do that to me?”

Elizabeth held out the sandwich for him too. After taking a bite, he glared at his brother. “You’re a lying sack of shit. That is atrocious, and you know it!”

Blackhawk laughed, earning a fist bump from Elizabeth, who then happily devoured the sandwich.

“We should probably talk work, or the little woman will have us eating something even more disgusting,” stated Callen, trying to wash the taste out of his mouth with soda. “I think I saw some road kill on our way here.”

“When in Hillbilly-ville…” she chimed in.

Neither man wanted to even think about that.

“We received the missing person reports, and they aren’t going to help much. Only one victim matches. We have the report for Ruth Hildebrant. The other two are an older man and a child. We’re out of luck.”